The following assignments include various learning activities, such as questions, lists, essays, charts, comparisons, contrasts, and surveys. To receive credit for this lesson, you must complete the number of assignments indicated below and submit them to your institute instructor or administrator. You may submit your work either electronically or on paper, handwritten or typed.
Each lesson should take approximately 60–90 minutes to complete, the same amount of time you would typically spend in a weekly institute class. Since reading the scripture block listed in the lesson heading is expected of all institute students prior to class, the estimated time for each assignment does not include the time you need to spend reading the scripture block.
Complete assignments 1, 2, and one of the other assignments:
1. Deuteronomy 2–3; 7; 9; 20; 25. Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked
Read Deuteronomy 20:17 and make a list of the different nations the Lord identified in these verses. Then read Deuteronomy 2:15; 7:2; 12:2–3 and write a paragraph about what the Lord commanded Israel to do with these nations.
Read Deuteronomy 9:4–5 and the institute student manual commentary for Deuteronomy 7:1–5, “Why Did the Lord Command the Israelites to Utterly Destroy the Canaanites?” (p. 219). Add to your previous paragraph any other reasons why these nations were destroyed.
Many of the sins found among the people living in Canaan are prevalent in today’s society. Write a paragraph explaining how you think we can protect ourselves from these sins.
2. Deuteronomy 4; 6; 7; 12–13; 17. The Lord Commanded Israel Not to Worship False Gods
Read Deuteronomy 4:1–10. Then write answers to the following questions:
- What are statutes and judgments? What is the promise for keeping them?
- What brings people to conversion?
- What responsibility did God place on parents? (see also D&C 68:25–28).
Read Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and the corresponding footnotes and the student manual commentary for Deuteronomy 6:4–9, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord Our God Is One Lord” (p. 218). Write a paragraph describing phylacteries and mezuzah and how they were used anciently and today.
Read Deuteronomy 6:14; 12:3; 13:6–9; 17:2–5 and write a paragraph describing the specific sin the Lord warned Israel against in these verses. Add to your paragraph what these verses include that convinces you of how strongly the Lord feels about this commandment. Then read Romans 1:25 and add to your paragraph a list of ways that people today sometimes worship false gods and how you can avoid that problem in your own life.
Read Deuteronomy 7:1–5 and explain in writing why the Lord prohibited Israel from marrying outside the covenant within the house of the Lord. What are the benefits and blessings of eternal marriage within the covenant both here on the earth and in the life hereafter?
3. Deuteronomy 10–11; 13–14; 22–24; 26; 28–29. Obedience Brings Blessings; Disobedience Brings Curses
Read Deuteronomy 10:1–5. Then write your answers to the following questions:
- Where did the Lord direct Moses to keep the tablets containing the Ten Commandments?
- What do you think this instruction teaches us about the value the Lord places on the commandments?
- Notice the Joseph Smith Translation correction in the footnotes for verse 2. Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:14–27. What blessings did the children of Israel deny themselves through their disobedience in the wilderness?
Compare Deuteronomy 11:1, 13–14, 22; 30:6, 16, 19–20 with Matthew 22:36–40. Write a paragraph that explains why you think this is the most important commandment. Love is an emotion; can emotions be commanded? How can a person love someone they don’t even see? How can we learn to love God?
Read Deuteronomy 10:12–13; 11:1, 8–9; 13:4; 26:17–19 and write a paragraph that describes what these verses have in common. In your writing explain why you think the Lord places such a strong emphasis on obedience to the commandments. Also note in your paragraph how Mosiah 2:41; Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21 applies to this question.
Read Deuteronomy 28:1–14 and make a list of the results of obeying the commandments. Skim through Deuteronomy 28:15–65 and make another list of the consequences of disobeying the commandments. Read Helaman 12:3 and write the purposes the Lord has for sometimes chastening his children with “many afflictions.”
The Lord clearly stated consequences of disobedience, but He does not desire to curse His children. Read Deuteronomy 4:29–31; 26:7–11; Isaiah 55:6–7; Ezekiel 18:21–23; Mosiah 26:30 and write a paragraph describing the Lord’s mercies and what His greatest desires are. Include in your statement how it makes you feel to know that God is kind, loving, and merciful.
4. Deuteronomy 4; 8; 28; 30; 32–34. The Scattering and Gathering of Israel
- What did the Lord prophesy would happen to Israel?
- Why was ancient Israel scattered?
- Where would the Lord scatter Israel?
- What would be one benefit of their scattering? (see Genesis 28:14).
Read Deuteronomy 30:1–5. Explain in writing what the Lord will eventually do with scattered Israel. Read the statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85), of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, located in the student manual under Deuteronomy 4:25–31, “The Scattering and Gathering of Israel” (p. 217). In your own words, write what it means for Israel to be gathered. Discuss in your writing the two aspects of this gathering. Conclude your paragraph by identifying which tribe of Israel Deuteronomy 33:16–17 suggests will assist in the gathering of latter-day Israel.
Read Deuteronomy 8:2, 11, 18; 9:7. Explain in writing what Israel was commanded to do. Then make note of what Israel eventually did in Deuteronomy 32:15, 18. How well did Israel keep the commandment? What role do you think this played in the eventual scattering of Israel? What role do you think it will play in Israel’s gathering? How could this apply to an individual’s personal scattering (apostasy)?
Read Deuteronomy 34:5–6. Describe in writing what seems to have happened to Moses in these verses. Read the statement by President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) in the student manual under Deuteronomy 34:5, “Did Moses Really Die as Recorded in Deuteronomy 34:5?” (p. 232). Then answer the following questions:
- What happened to Moses?
- Why was Moses translated?
- According to Doctrine and Covenants 110:11 what other future responsibility did Moses have?
What did the event described in the Doctrine and Covenants have to do with the gathering of Israel?